PolitiQuizz: Independence Day Barbecue Edition

July Fourth is one of America’s great grilling days, as revelers across the country celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence over hamburgers and hotdogs (or portabellas, for you vegetarians). Most Americans won’t be considering lobbying totals and campaign fundraising in between bites of potato salad. However, if you want to know how that food got to your plate it’s worth looking at how the meat production industry helps make the political sausage in Washington.

The meat industry has contributed nearly $1.4 million to candidates so far in the 2012 cycle, after giving about $1.7 million in both the 2010 and 2008 cycles. Eighty-three percent of those donations have gone to Republicans, according to Center for Responsive Politics research — par for the course for an industry which has given at least 70 percent of its contributions to the GOP in every election since 1992.

Meat producers and processors have also heavily lobbied the federal government. Led by industry giants Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods, meat businesses and trade associations spent $5.8 million on lobbying in 2011. Much of what these groups lobby on is directly related to meat and processing. But one major meat producer reached across the grocery aisle to lobby on an issue close to the heart of corn growers. And that little curve ball brings us to this week’s PolitiQuizz. We want to know:

Which Senate amendment, intended to repeal an excise tax based on ethanol, did Tyson Foods lobby on in 2011? Answer that question, then name at least one other organization that also lobbied on the amendment in 2011.

Media Contact

Viveca Novak
(202) 354-0111
press@crp.org

Search

Archives

Categories

Count Cash & Make Change.

OpenSecrets.org is your nonpartisan guide to money's influence on U.S. elections and
public policy. Whether you're a voter, journalist, activist, student or interested citizen,
use our free site to shine light on your government.